Continuous washing machine

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to apparatus for the simultaneous laundering of different laundry items, for example white and multicolored laundry batches, in a continuous washing machine, as well as a continuous washing machine appropriate therefor, comprising a washing drum whose washing compartments are separated from each other and are in each case connected to another washing compartment by a countercurrent conduit, whereby the countercurrent conduits (10) in each case are connected to a shut-off means (4) controllable with regard to their opening and closing condition, the washing compartments (23 C to K) moreover are connected in each case via a conduit section (10) having a controllable shut-off means (2) to a common connecting conduit section (12) which in each case are provided between two adjacent connecting conduits (11) with a correspondingly controllable shut-off means (3), and whereby a program-controlled control installation is present by means of which the shut-off means (2, 3, 4) are to be actuated in such a manner that the countercurrent liquid is to be guided at least around one washing compartment, without liquid entering another washing compartment from the by-passed washing compartment.

The invention relates to a method of simultaneously laundering differentlaundry items, consisting for example of either white laundry items orcolored laundry items, in a continuous washing machine having aplurality of laundry zones, containing, if applicable, several laundrycompartments, wherein the laundry items fed at the start of thelaundering machine cyclically and consecutively in the area of theloading and/or soaking zone into the washing machine are transferred ineach case, following a pre-determined treatment or a synchronized periodof time, automatically into the next laundry compartment and deliveredat the end of the washing machine cyclically and consecutively.

The invention moreover relates to a continuous washing machineappropriate and intended for carrying out the above-mentioned method forthe washing of laundry, comprising a washing drum rotatable about itslongitudinal axis, whose washing compartments, substantially separatedfrom each other bathwise, are connected in each case to an adjacentlaundry compartment by a countercurrent conduit, by means of whichduring the transportation of the laundry items from one laundrycompartment to the next one, a partial current of the liquid in thelaundry compartment located at the start of the drum end, is to beconducted in countercurrent to the laundry supplied batchwise andlocated at the start of the drum, traversing the laundry compartmentscyclically and consecutively through the washing machine, saidcountercurrent consisting of a liquid fed via a feed current, and alsocomprising a soaking conduit through which the remainder of the fluidsupplied at the drum end is to be conducted from the rinsing zonelocated at the drum end to the loading and soaking zone located at thestart of the drum

Basically two different methods are to be distinguished for the washingof laundry, namely on the one hand the multiple-lye method, wherein thelaundry lye is exchanged at the end of the individual washing zones,that is to say, it is drained and replaced by new laundry lye, and onthe other hand, the flow method, wherein the laundry to be washed isaccompanied during its travel through the washing machine by thelaundering lye.

Within the scope of the fluid flow method, the so-called countercurrentmethod is preferred for different reasons, whereby the washing zone(rinsing zone) located at the end of the washing machine is supplied viaa feed conduit with fresh water which traverses the machine upon leavingthe rinsing zone then with a partial current in counterflow to thelaundry, while the preponderant residual current of the liquid fed atthe end of the washing machine is supplied via a connection with theloading and soaking zone located at the start of the washing machine anddesignated here as a soaking conduit.

The countercurrent method is to be preferred over the other knownwashing methods, already for the reason that the water requirementspercentagewise are lower (for example by 25%) against the quantitytraversing the washing machine in countercurrent to the laundry. Inaddition, savings also are accomplished in detergents, detergentadditives and last but not least also in energy needed for the heatingup of the laundry lye by zones, so that continuous countercurrentwashing machines have been making inroads to a considerable extentduring the past years in the art.

Washing laundry in a countercurrent continuous washing machine isproblem-free, as long as at the same time and always only laundry itemsof the same kind (that is for example only white laundry items) are inthe washing machine; such laundry items not only are to be treatedalike, but they cannot influence each other detrimentally. However, thelatter may occur when laundry items of different types, that is forexample laundry items consisting of what laundry on the one hand andcolored laundry on the other hand are fed in random sequence into such awashing machine and thus are present also simultaneously in the washingmachine. For under such conditions due to the discoloration of thecolored laundry items, the washing lye adulterated with dye and/ordiscolored rinsing water may cause discoloration of the white laundryitems during the embodiment of the countercurrent method desirable perse for reasons of economy.

In addition, in the above-mentioned example white laundry items are tobe treated in certain laundering zones at higher temperatures thancolored laundry items, so that such points of view are contrary in suchcases for the embodiment of the countercurrent method.

The above are reasons why in laundries, where laundry material ofdifferent kinds are to be treated, for example, a smaller washingmachine has been installed for the laundering of colored material, whilea larger washing machine is used to launder white material.

However, already for reasons of economy, in view of the investments tobe incurred therefor, such a method of operation is extremelyunsatisfactory, so that the manufacturers of laundry machines have beenendeavoring to design largescale washing machines for industriallaundries which can handle different types of laundry materialsimultaneously.

The washing machines quasi developed back out of countercurrentcontinuous washing machines again operate according to the old principleof the multi-lye method, discarded as such for reasons of economy,whereby these apparently inevitable disadvantages have been accepted, inorder to avoid for these industrial laundries the investments otherwisenecessary for a second washing machine.

The present invention is based on the problem of creating a launderingapparatus of the initially described kind, by which the washingoperation can be performed substantially more economically as comparedwith the known appratus for the simultaneous laundering of laundry itemsof diverse kinds, by saving water, detergents, laundry aids, as well asenergy.

In addition, the objective of the present invention is to create acontinuous washing machine of the initially described kind, which inaddition is appropriate for washing laundry items of the same kind, inorder to launder them in a manner known from prior art per se, accordingto the economical countercurrent method.

The invention provides as a solution of the problem that laundry itemsof a preponderantly present first kind (that is white laundry) arelaundered in a manner known per se according to prior art, under thecountercurrent method, and that laundry items simultaneously present inthe washing machine, of a second kind present in a lesser amount (forexample multicolored laundry items or woolen fabrics) are laundered in amanner known per se according to prior art under the multi-lye method,whereby the partial current flowing in countercurrent to the laundry isfed from a laundry compartment containing laundry of the first kind andtransported, by-passing a laundry compartment containing laundry of thesecond kind, to the next laundry compartment located in the direction ofthe countercurrent and containing laundry of the first kind.

It shall be pointed out here once more that, as known, under thecountercurrent method a partial current of the washing fluid introducedat the end of the laundry machine traverses the laundry machine incountercurrent to the laundry, cyclically from one laundry compartmentto the next one, while under the multi-lye method, the laundering lye isdrained completely at the end of one washing zone and replaced by freshlaundry fluid.

With the embodiment of the washing apparatus according to the invention,it becomes possible to not only dispense with the investment for anadditional, generally smaller washing machine for laundering laundrypresent to a lesser amount (multicolored laundry items for instance),but in addition the advantage is achieved that with laundry present in alarger amount, of the first kind (that is white laundry, for example)and/or maintained, offered by the countercurrent method, and whiledispensing with a second washing machine, the disadvantages of amulti-lye method must not be accepted, as it is put into practice merelywith laundry of the second kind present to a lesser amount.

As demonstrated already by the redevelopment of countercurrentcontinuous washing machines, modern per se, into multi-lye washingmachines, a simultaneous laundering of laundry batches of differenttypes, while practicing the countercurrent procedure universallyrecognized as advantageous has been considered until now as impossibleand as a kind of self contradiction, because understandably, thestarting point has been that the partial current conducted incountercurrent to the laundry through the washing machine, of thewashing liquid introduced at the end of the washing machine into itsrinsing zone erroneously and positively, for example in the case ofwhite and colored items, would have to lead to discoloration of thewhite items and to improper treatment of the colored items because oftoo high temperatures. This age-old prejudice of the art present bynature and already contained in the definition consequently has beenovercome according to the invention by creating a quasi "wanderingby-pass" conduit adjustable to the prevailing momentary conditions,whereby, depending on actual situations, one or several washingcompartments are by-passed by the partial flow of washing lye moving incountercurrent to the laundry, then the countercurrent principle iscontinued, while maintaining the aforementioned advantages, followingsaid by-pass, as will be explained below.

The part of the problem directed toward the washing machine is solvedaccording to the invention by providing the countercurrent conduits ineach case with a shut-off means which here can be selectively opened andclosed, and that the washing compartments moreover are connected via aconduit section having a controllable shut-off means to a jointconnective conduit which in each case between two adjacent washingcompartments is provided with a controllable shut-off means.

The present invention is applicable particularly to so-called doubledrum washing machines where the washing compartments of the washing drumlocated on the interior side are connected between the area locatedbetween the washing drum and the stationary outer drum by way of passageapertures, whereby said areas associated with the individual washingcompartments are sealed against each other at least substantiallybecause in the case of double drum continuous washing machines thearrangement and design of the individual conduits according to theinvention can be realized in a particularly simple and expedient manner.However, as a matter of principle it also can be realized in so-calledsingle drum machines if based on their design the arrangement of thevarious conduits according to the invention is feasible as this is thecase for example in a known single drum machine where lip seals arepresent between two adjacent washing compartments, where stationaryconduit ends are to be introduced between them also under the rotationof the drum.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in thedependent claims.

Below the invention is elucidated in greater detail by way ofembodiments, with reference to a drawing.

FIG. 1 represents a schematic representation of the central part of acontinuous washing machine according to the invention, whereby for theclarification of the principle according to the invention only theconduits and conduit sections along with the shut-off means areillustrated.

FIG. 1a shows a presentation corresponding to FIG. 1 for purecountercurrent operation whereby in each case in the individual washingequivalent batches of laundry consisting of white laundry are present.

FIG. 1b shows a presentation corresponding to FIG. 1 wherebymulticolored laundry material is present in a laundry compartmentrepresented in broken lines, while the remaining laundry compartmentscontain white laundry items.

FIG. 2 shows a variation corresponding with respect to therepresentation to FIG. 1.

FIG. 2a shows a presentation corresponding to FIG. 2 with a launderingcondition corresponding to FIG. 1a.

FIG. 2b shows a presentation corresponding to FIG. 2 with a launderingcondition corresponding to FIG. 1b.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the conduit circuit diagramcompleted with regard to FIG. 1, of a double drum continuous washingmachine according to the invention, and

FIGS. 3a to 3w constitute representations according to FIG. 3 with thepassage of a batch of laundry consisting of multicolored laundry itemsthrough the washing machine containing white laundry material for theremainder.

FIG. 1 shows a highly schematized representation of a central portion ofa continuous washing machine for the itemwise washing of laundry, infact in the kind of a circuit diagram relating to the conduits mostessential for the invention with additional, present conduits aredeleted for better clarification. They will be explained below inconjunction with FIG. 3.

The washing machine identified as a whole by 20 has a washing drum 22rotatable about its longitudinal axis 21, whereby it is optional andtherefore for the time being the question is left open whether thisrelates to a single or a double drum machine.

The washing drum 22 is provided with a series of washing compartments 23which during the laundering operation are separated bathwise from eachother, whereby FIG. 1 only shows part of said washing compartments 23,which for the sake of greater clarity are partly provided with ordinalnumbers 0.1, 0.2, etc.

Two adjacent washing compartments 23 in each case are interconnected bya countercurrent conduit 10, through which, upon completion of onewashing cycle, during the conveyance of the laundry items in thedirection of the arrow 24 from one washing compartment into thefollowing one, a partial current of the liquid furnished at the drum endnot shown to the washing compartment located there, associated with therinsing zone is to be furnished via a feed conduit not represented inFIG. 1 (explained below with reference to FIG. 3) and to be transferredin countercurrent to the laundry-that is opposite to arrow 24, into thefollowing washing compartment. The countercurrent conduits 10 areprovided in each case with a shut-off means to be selectively opened orclosed by way of a programmed control installation.

Furthermore, the washing machine 20 is equipped with a soaking conduitlikewise not shown and explained below with reference to FIG. 3. Theremainder of the liquid fed at the drum end in the rinsing zone notflowing as partial current in countercurrent to the laundry through themachine, is directed from the rinsing zone directly to the loading andsoaking zone located at the start of the drum.

Furthermore, the washing compartments 23 are connected in each case viaa conduit section 11 to a joint connecting conduit 12, whereby likewisebetween the drum 22 and the connecting conduit 12 in the conduitsections 11 a shut-off means 2 again is arranged in each case which canbe controlled by the mentioned control installation, that is to say itcan selectively be opened or closed.

Moreover, in each case a shut-off means 3 which can be selectivelyopened or closed and controlled by means of the mentioned controlinstallation is present between two adjacent washing compartments 23and/or the junction points of the conduit sections 11 into theconnecting conduit 12.

If for example the washing compartments 23 only contain laundry itemsconsisting only of white goods for example, the washing machine 20operates according to the normal countercurrent principle. Thus thewashing drum 22 is propelled during a washing cycle in reverse andcompletes an oscillating swivel movement (for example by 90° or 180°)about its longitudinal axis 21. Following the completion of the washingcycle the washing drum then completes an entire revolution whereby alaundry item present in each case in a washing compartment 23 isconveyed along with the essential portion of the washing fluid presentin this washing compartment 23 in the direction of the arrow 23 into theadjacent washing compartment 23. This may be accomplished for example bymeans of a conveyor installation designed as a spiral chute or the like.At the same time part of the washing lye located in this subsequentwashing compartment 23 flows via the countercurrent conduit 10connecting these two washing compartments in the direction opposite tothe arrow 23 into the adjacent washing compartment and so forth.

As shown in FIG. 1a, thereby the shut-off means 4 present in thecountercurrent conduits 10 are opened and the shut-off means 3 presentin the connecting conduit 12 as well as the shut-off means 2 present inthe conduit sections 11 are closed, with a closed state of the shut-offmeans being indicated in the drawing by the fact that they are shown inblack in each case, while open shut-off means merely are shown by thinlines. Under normal countercurrent operation with laundry of the samekind it would thus be possible to dispense with the conduits 11 and 12and with the shut-off means 2 and 3, as this also is known from thecountercurrent washing machines according to prior art.

If, conversely, one washing compartment--according to FIG. 1b forexample the washing compartment 23.3--contains laundry of a second kind,actually in the present example, multicolored laundry, it is impossibleto maintain in the area of this washing compartment 23.3 the normalcountercurrent operation, as this would lead, among other things, to adiscoloration of the white laundry material in washing compartment 23.2.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1b, under this load condition the shut-offmeans 4.3 associated with the washing compartment 23.3 is closed in thecountercurrent conduit 10.3. In addition the shut-off means 4.4 in thecountercurrent conduit 10.4 connecting the washing compartment 23.4 withthe washing compartment 23.3 is closed, and in addition the shut-offmeans 2.3 located in the conduit section 11.3 is closed, so that thewashing compartment 23.3 containing the colored laundry material thus isquasi encapsulated against its environment. Thus it neither caninfluence it nor be influenced by it.

To be able to maintain the countercurrent operation and the advantagesconnected therewith for the remainder, the shut-off means 2.4 in theconduit section 11.4 as well as the shut-off means 2.2 in the conduitsection 11.2 are opened. Furthermore the shut-off means 3.3 and 3.4located between the conduit sections 11.2 and 11.4 are opened, so thatthe countercurrent liquid can discharge from the washing compartment23.4, hence by-passing the washing compartment 23.3, via the linesection 11.4, via a section of the connecting conduit 12 containing theshut-off means 3.4 and 3.3 and via the conduit section 11.2 into thenext compartment 23.3 containing the white wash, from where the normalcountercurrent operation then continues analogous with FIG. 1a. The sameapplies for washing compartments 23.5 etc. which follow in the directionof the arrow 24, the washing compartment 23.4. There again a normalcountercurrent operation takes place.

The control of the various shut-off means in their open and closedposition, depending on the prevailing load condition thereby constitutesno problem, because these means are controllable without difficulties bymeans of a from a programmed computer, whereby it is only necessary toindicate upon feeding the computer the kind of washing item involved.

Basically, nothing changes either, obviously, if several washingcompartments 23 placed adjacent to each other or in spaced relation,contain colored laundry items, while the remaining washing compartmentscontain white wash or vice versa, because such a load condition merelyis a question of the control of the shut-off means, whereby theprinciple according to the invention explained with reference to FIGS.1, 1a and particularly 1b, as shown above, is maintained unchanged.

It is perfectly obvious that with the design according to FIG. 1,separately designed countercurrent conduits 10, the connecting conduit12 and the conduit sections 11 connecting the connecting conduit 12 tothe washing drum may partly coincide, as shown in FIG. 2, whereby thenaccording to FIG. 2 the countercurrent conduits 10 in each case make useof one section of the connecting conduit, and the conduit sectionsconnecting the washing drum 22 in each case with the connecting conduit12 represent an additional section of the countercurrent conduit 10, theshut-off means 2 then in each case being arranged in said section.

FIG. 2a shows in a manner analogous with FIG. 1a the condition underpure countercurrent principle, whereby the washing drum 22 containsmerely laundry of one single kind (for instance white wash). Then,according to FIG. 2a the shut-off means 3 located in the connectingconduit 12 are closed.

If, conversely, one washing compartment 23.3 contains multicoloredlaundry, as per FIG. 2a, the normal countercurrent operation from onewashing compartment to the next one takes place only from the end of thewashing drum only as far as the washing compartment 23.5, while thewashing compartment containing colored laundry 23.3 again is sealedagainst its environment, as it has been explained already before withreference to FIG. 1b. The shut-off means 2.3 and 4.3 associated with thewashing compartment 23.3 thus are closed, while the shut-off means 3.3located between the shut-off means 2.3 and 4.3 in the connecting conduit12 is opened, so that the countercurrent liquid can flow opposite thewashing direction, according to arrow 24, from the washing compartment23.4 through the opened shut-off means 4.4 via the connecting line 12,the shut-off means 3.3 located therein and opened, and the openedshut-off means 2.2, by-passing the washing compartment 23.3 and enteringthe washing compartment 23.2.

It also should be pointed out that the washing process in thecountercurrent principle by no means is necessarily reserved to whitewash, for example, while, for example, multicolored or woolen laundryitems to be washed simultaneously are washed under the multi-lye methodas it is explained in greater detail below, but for optimizing theprofitability, the manner of operation appropriately is so provided thatthe kind of laundry present preponderantly is laundered under thecountercurrent procedure, while laundry present to a lesser degree ofthe second kind is processed according to the multi-lye method.

FIG. 3 shows in a conduit diagram completed with respect to FIGS. 1 and2, a continuous washing machine 20 designed as double drum machine, withthe rotatable washing drum not being shown in FIG. 3, only its outerdrum being represented schematically. It shall again be pointed out thatthe presentation in FIG. 3 more or less relates to a conduit circuitdiagram, so that the arrangement of the conduits in relation to eachother and to the drum, selected here for greater clarity, naturally doesnot correspond with the actual arrangement (for example in height).

The outer drum of the washing machine 20 has washing compartments A toK, whereby the laundry to be washed is fed item by item into the washingcompartment A which thus represents the loading zone and jointly withthe washing compartment B the soaking zone. The washing compartments Cto G are washing compartments associated with the individual washingzones, while the washing compartments H to K represent the rinsing zone.

A feed conduit 13 is shown in the upper portion of FIG. 3, through whichfresh water is directed into the washing compartment K of the rinsingzone. True, the feeding conduit 13 is continued as far as the washingcompartment 13 and connected in each case with a conduit section 14 toeach washing compartment C to K, with a shut-off means 6 being presentin each conduit section 14, which may selectively be opened or closed.

A conduit 15 here designated as soaking conduit extends from the end ofthe washing drum 20 along the washing machine, forwardly to the firstwashing compartment A. A pump P is present in the soaking conduit 15, bymeans of which approximately 75% of the washing liquid added at the drumend are conveyed after leaving the rinsing zone, to the washingcompartment A, while the remaining liquid--that is about 25%--travelsthrough the washing machine 20 in countercurrent, that is opposite tothe direction of travel of the laundry, according to the arrow 24, aswill be explained below.

The outer drum of the washing machine 20 is connected on its bottom sidewith a so-called runoff tank 16, at which for the selective heating ofcertain washing compartments and/or washing zones, steam may beintroduced, but this shall not be discussed in detail. A conduit section11 provided with a controllable shut-off means 2 leads in each case fromthe runoff tanks 16 of the washing compartments C to G and the rinsingcompartments H to K to a connecting conduit 12 already explained withreference to FIG. 1. Between the junctions of the conduit sections 11into the connecting conduit 12, a controllable shut-off means 3 isarranged, according to FIG. 1 and/or 2.

So-called pulsators, as they are described in the German Display CopyNo. 25 27 503, are located at one side of the washing machine. Thepulsator of one washing compartment thus has an opening located abovethe normal washing liquid level at the circumference of the washing drumbottom in the direction of rotation, in an intermediate containerprovided with a countercurrent conduit 10 terminating in a washingcompartment preceding the arrow 10, whereby each countercurrent conduit10 is provided with a controllable shut-off means 4.

Moreover, a drain conduit 17 terminating into a drain channel 17' ispresent and connected to each washing compartment A to K via a line 18,in which in each case a controllable shut-off means 1 is placed. In eachcase overflow plugs 19 which are associated with the individual washingcompartments are located in the discharge conduits in each case in thearea of the washing compartments B to K.

A field is plotted beneath the washing machine 20 in FIG. 3corresponding to the washing compartments A to K, which indicateswhether white laundry or colored laundry is located in a washingcompartment, whereby in the latter case the corresponding box ishatched.

In the condition according to FIG. 3 the washing machine 20 onlycontains laundry of one kind, namely white wash so that the usualcountercurrent operation known per se from prior art can be applied.

In this case fresh water enters the washing machine 20 from a freshwater reservoir in the direction of the arrow 25, in fact via theshut-off means K6 of the conduit K14, thus entering the washingcompartment K associated with the rinsing zone. All shut-off means 1, 2,3, and 6, with the exception of the shut-off means K6 are closed and allshut-off means 4 in the countercurrent conduit 10 are opened. Theremaining current not flowing as partial current through the washingmachine 20 flows from the washing compartments H, I and K associatedwith the rinsing zone, via the overflow plugs 19 into the right portionof the discharge conduit 17 which is closed by a shut-off means 5 towardthe channel 17', so that this liquid reaches the washing compartment Afrom the overflow plug 19 and a closed shut-off means 5' located in aconnecting conduit between the discharge conduit 17 and the soakingconduit 15, and via the pump P.

Following the completion of the washing cycle the drum rotates about360° , whereby each laundry batch enters the adjacent washingcompartment in the direction of the arrow 24, along with thepreponderant part of the washing fluid. At the same time thecountercurrent liquid flows via the countercurrent conduits 10 andthrough the opened shut-off means 4 opposite to the arrow 24 into theadjacent laundry compartment, and so forth.

If according to FIG. 3a a batch of laundry consisting of coloredmaterial is placed into the washing compartment A, nothing changesduring the washing phase with respect to the valve positions. A changeonly occurs in the conveying phase whereby the shut-off means located inconduit A18 is opened, in order to deliver the residual liquid possiblydiscolored by the colored laundry items into the discharge conduit 17and thus to drain the washing compartment A for a new batch of laundry,possibly consisting of white material.

If the batch of colored laundry then reached the washing compartment Baccording to FIG. 3c, again no change occurs with respect to theposition of the shut-off means against FIG. 3, because the compartment Bused for the soaking is not connected to the first washing compartment Cvia a countercurrent conduit 10. During the conveying of the batch ofcolored laundry from the washing compartment B the shut-off means B1 isopened again according to the manner of operation according to FIG. 3b,to cause the residual liquid which remained after the conveying inwashing compartment B to drain via the discharge conduit 17 into channel17'. Normal countercurrent operation continues to take place at theresidual section of the washing machine.

Once the colored laundry batch has arrived in the washing compartment C(FIG. 3e) in which a prewashing cycle takes place, the shut-off means C4is closed to seal the washing compartment C against the adjacent washingcompartment D, and during the subsequent conveying operation into thewashing compartment D according to FIG. 3f the shut-off means C1 isopened again, so that the washing compartment C is connected to channel17' via the drain conduit 17.

Then a bath change occurs in the washing compartment 3D according toFIG. 3g, whereby the shutoff means D1 is opened toward the drain conduit17. Subsequently new washing liquid flows into the washing compartment Dvia the feed conduit 13 and the conduit section 14 connecting the feedconduit 13 to the washing compartment D, with the shut-off means D6located in conduit D14 being opened. Instead, the new washing liquid canbe fed into the washing compartment D also from a supply tank V viaconduit 14, in which the liquid already can be preheated to 60° C. (140°F.) for example.

During the washing cycle, when the colored laundry is in the washingcompartment D, according to FIG. 3h the shut-off means C4 in thecountercurrent conduit D/C10 connecting the washing compartments D andC, as well as the shut-off means D4 in the countercurrent conduit E/D10connecting the washing compartments E and D, are closed, while theshut-off means D3 in the connecting conduit 12 and the shut-off means E2and C2 in the conduit sections E11 and C11 are opened, so that on theone hand the colored laundry located in the laundry compartment D issealed against its environment, and on the other hand during thesubsequent conveying operation according to FIG. 3i countercurrentliquid can flow from the washing compartment E into the washingcompartment C, while by-passing the washing compartment D.

During the subsequent washing operation in the washing compartment E thecontrol then is accomplished according as per FIG. 3k. Then, in additionto the shut-off means I2, the shut-off means E4 and D4 are closed, whilethe shut-off means F2, E3, D3 and D2 are opened, so that countercurrentliquid can flow from the washing compartment F into the washingcompartment D, while by-passing the washing compartment E filled withcolored laundry material. As can be seen from FIG. 3k, among otherthings, again a normal countercurrent operation takes place between thewashing compartments D and C, via the opened shut-off means C4 and thecountercurrent conduit D/C10. Once more it shall be pointed out herethat in each case following the draining of the residual liquid from awashing compartment which contained colored laundry, this quasi lostliquid discharging via the drain conduit 17 into channel 17' can beequalized by a short-lived addition of fresh water via the feed line 13,when the shut-off means 6 associated with the corresponding washingcompartment is opened for a brief time.

By the way, the shut-off means 6 are means which can be designed forexample as double valves, whereby in the one valve the quantity flowingthrough is to be adjusted, while the other valve merely is controllablein open or closed position. As can be seen from FIG. 3-1 to 3-0, thecircuits of the corresponding shut-off means then are corresponding ineach case, that is in such a manner that a washing compartmentcontaining colored laundry in each case is by-passed while maintainingthe countercurrent operation via a "wandering by-pass" realized based onthe control of the shut-off means. While the laundry batch containingcolored laundry from the washing compartment G into the washingcompartment H (FIG. 3p) the colored laundry batch reaches the rinsingzone, whereby the rinsing phase for the colored laundry then can beaccomplished in the following overflow method.

The particular advantage of the invention resides in the fact that evenwith the simultaneous washing of laundry batches of different kinds inan economically desirable manner the countercurrent method, recognizeduniversally as advantageous, can be applied, while laundry of the secondkind can be washed simultaneously in the same machine, without causingany reciprocal negative influence, whereby the economically unfavorablewashing method according to the multi-lye method is restricted to merelythe laundry of the second kind present to a lesser degree.

The additional investment to be realized for this is limited to variousconduits and shut-off means and to a control system for the shut-offmeans which is controlled by a programmed computer, such shut-off meansbeing present on account of the necessary washing programs as basicequipment in any continuous washing machine and requiring on the wholeinvestments which cannot be compared either the otherwise necessaryinvestment costs for a second washing machines, or in the long run withthe loss of profitability in the execution of the multi-lye method forall laundry batches.

I claim:
 1. A continuous washing machine for the washing of laundrybatches of, for example, white and colored laundry items, comprising awashing drum which has a longitudinal axis, a loading end and adischarge end, and contains a washing liquid and is propellable aboutits longitudinal axis and has laundry compartments which aresubstantially separated from each other with respect to said washingliquid, each of said compartments being connected to an adjacent laundrycompartment by a countercurrent conduit and laundry items beingtransported from one of said compartments to the next, whereby duringthe transporting of the laundry items from one laundry compartment tothe next one a partial current of liquid supplied to the laundrycompartment located adjacent the discharge end of the washing drum isconducted in countercurrent to the laundry supplied batchwise at saidloading end of the drum, said laundry traversing the laundrycompartments cyclically and consecutively through the washing machine,said liquid countercurrent being a part of a liquid fed into the washingmachine at the discharge end of the drum via a feed conduit, said drumfurther including a rinsing zone located at the discharge end and aloading and soaking zone located at the loading end, and said washingmachine further comprising a soaking conduit through which the remainderof the liquid supplied at the drum discharge end which is not conductedvia said countercurrent conduit is to be conducted from said rinsingzone located at the drum discharge end to said loading and soaking zonelocated at the loading end of the washing drum, each of saidcountercurrent conduits being provided with a shut-off means which canbe selectively opened and closed; each of the washing compartmentsmoreover being connected via a conduit section having a correspondinglycontrollable shut-off means to a joint connective conduit which in eachcase is provided between said conduit sections of two adjacentcompartments with a correspondingly controllable shut-off means; and aprogram-controlled control installation connected to the shut-off meansfor opening and/or closing in such a manner that the countercurrentliquid is to be conducted around at least one of said washingcompartments and no liquid enters another washing compartment from thisbypassed washing compartment.
 2. The washing machine as defined claim 1,wherein said washing compartments are connected in each case via aconduit containing a shut-off means controllable with respect to itsopening and closing condition, to a drain conduit.
 3. The washingmachine as defined in claim 2, wherein said washing compartments areconnected in each case via an overflow to a drain conduit.
 4. Thewashing machine as defined in claim 2 or 3, wherein said drain conduitat its end facing away from the drain is connected to the soakingconduit via a controllable shut-off means.
 5. The washing machine asdefined in claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein said washing compartments areconnected in each case with the feed conduit via a conduit containing ashut-off means controllable with respect to its open and closedcondition.
 6. The washing machine as defined in claim 5, wherein saidshut-off means in the conduits connecting the feed conduit to thewashing compartments are so designed that flowthrough is adjustable inthe open position.